Police have found the Phuket tuk-tuk driver following the death of a British professional boxer who fell from the vehicle. The driver claims he was driving at normal speed and did not know when the passenger fell off, only discovering the passenger was seriously injured and later died after driving about 2 kilometers and hearing the news.
Updates on the death of Mr. Colin Cairney, 29, a British tourist and professional boxer, who fell from a tuk-tuk public transport vehicle on Phra Barami Road, Pa Tong Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket Province, in the early morning of 14 June 2026. He was seriously injured and later died. Police at Pa Tong Station have now located and interrogated the tuk-tuk driver involved.
Pol. Lt. Col. Surachart Thongyai, the investigating officer at Pa Tong Police Station, revealed that on 15 June, authorities summoned Mr. Kitipong, 34, from Phatthalung Province, who was confirmed by evidence to be the tuk-tuk driver involved, for questioning.
During questioning, Mr. Kitipong confessed that on the night of the incident, he picked up two foreign tourists, a man and a woman, from the Bangla nightlife area to take them to a hotel near Khaolim Beach. Upon arrival, the tourists said they had no cash to pay the fare and asked to be taken to an ATM.
Mr. Kitipong stated that he then took the intoxicated male tourist to three nearby ATMs but was unable to withdraw money. He decided to return the passenger to the original pickup point in Bangla Alley. While driving past a hotel on Phra Barami Road at normal speed, he sensed something was wrong with the vehicle but did not stop to check. He drove about 2 kilometers past the location before realizing the passenger was no longer in the vehicle. However, he did not report the incident to police or anyone else, and only later learned that the British passenger had fallen from the vehicle and was seriously injured before dying.
The tuk-tuk involved belongs to his older brother, and Mr. Kitipong had rented it to operate as a passenger vehicle.
After the investigation, authorities charged him with two offenses: negligent conduct causing death, and failing to stop to provide assistance or immediately report the incident to authorities.
At the investigation stage, the suspect confessed to all charges. Currently, negotiations are underway regarding compensation with the deceased's uncle, who lives in Phuket.